Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and increased rating for osteoarthritis, right knee are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as less likely related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee with meniscal tear is dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional examinations and development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and SSA earnings statements. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and addressing regulatory changes for instability under DC 5257. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left knee arthritis and meniscal tear, as well as right knee arthritis, were denied by the Board. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability and/or subluxation from May 15, 2018 to November 6, 2018. The initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee disability prior to this period remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board finds that he is capable of sedentary employment despite his physical limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and right knee disorder as secondary to the Veteran's left knee disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were related to his active service or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal and ACL tear, post-operative repair, is granted a disability rating of 20 percent. His right knee degenerative arthritis continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened and granted.,Service connection for the right knee and left knee disabilities were also granted as secondary to his service-connected left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with a focus on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, is granted on the merits.,The left knee disability manifested by pain is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability (patellofemoral pain syndrome).,Bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of service connection for various lower extremity disorders due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's migraines associated with TBI are granted a 30 percent rating, effective August 5, 2021. The left knee patellofemoral syndrome is granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful limitation of extension from July 26, 2021. Other issues and conditions remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The claims will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes, hypertension, renal nephropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service-connected. The left knee chondromalacia and instability remain at a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The right knee disability claim is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disorder, and sleep disturbance (recharacterized as sleep apnea) have been denied. The application to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep disturbance has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of various hip and knee disabilities, as secondary to service-connected pes planus. The Veteran's testimony indicates that his current disabilities are related to his military service and exacerbated by his service-connected condition.